Marko forecasts grim prospects for Verstappen and Red Bull: 'Next races will be tough'

Helmut Marko has said that the next couple of races "will be really rough" for Red Bull, starting with the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix this weekend.

The Austrian advisor envisages a scenario where a transfer of Max Verstappen is completely out of the question, despite worrying about the Dutchman making a move away from the Austrian team.

In recent months, there have of course been various rumors that the Dutchman might move to another team if there is no prospect of better results at Red Bull, but according to Horner, there is no question of a switch, as long as Red Bull provides him with the right car to win the world championship.

Marko on Verstappen in the championship and his future

“I've said it often: Max is primarily focused on the world championship,” Marko began in a conversation with the Kleine Zeitung. “If we give him the right car for that, there's absolutely no question of a possible switch,” said the Austrian about the rumors around Verstappen, which would be off the table if he seriously keeps prospects for his fifth world title in Formula 1.

In Bahrain, Red Bull was not in good shape, unlike in Japan, where Verstappen won the race. “That hurt,” Marko said, reacting to the performance in Bahrain. “Falling from a victory back to a midfield position was certainly not our plan. The car lacks balance, which causes the tyres to overheat – and one problem leads to another...”

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Marko predicts not much for Red Bull and Verstappen in Saudi Arabia

The upcoming races will be crucial for the Red Bull team, Marko believes: “The races in Jeddah and Miami are going to be really tough for us. If we want to stay competitive in the title fight, we need to secure at least one podium place in the next three races.”

This article was written in collaboration with Estéban den Toom